IttyBittyFoodies made it – Circle of Moms Top 25 Foodie Moms 2012

You may recall last month there was fierce competition among 270 food blogs vying for the honor of being one of the Top 25 Foodie Moms 2012 by Circle of Moms. We’re pleased to announce that IttyBittyFoodies made it – right at No 24.  Huge thanks to loyal readers, family and friends who read and support our itty bitty blog. Circle of Moms just released interviews with the Top 25 Foodie Moms and you can read the exclusive IttyBittyFoodies interview HERE!

Last but not least, please take a moment to check out Erin Blinn’s portfolio. She has been taking photos of our IttyBittyFoodies for years now. Not only does she take beautiful photos, she’s very fast and captures them well.

Thanks for listening to my Motherhood Musings

Cheryl Collett is a mom on a mission to expand her kids’ palates and IttyBittyFoodies chronicles their yummy adventures. For recipes and other crafty fun ideas, look under HomeMade or check out the best kid friendly places under Restaurant Reviews where the food is delicious for both parents and children. Get the latest updates if you Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @ittybittyfoodie

Kaurina’s Kulfi – a delicious summer treat!

“Why do you like kulfi so much?” I ask Pikelet. “Because only Indian people get to eat it,” he replies, giving his pistachio kulfi pop another lick. “Are you Indian?” I laugh. “Yes,” he says definitively. “Although, I also like sushi and I might be Japanese,” he adds.

Vote IttyBittyFoodies – Circle of Moms Top 25 Foodie Moms

Thank you to all those who have voted for IttyBittyFoodies at  Circle of Moms for Top 25 Foodie Moms 2012 category. We’re currently at No 34 with 327 votes at last count! There’s just four days left to vote and we’re asking for a last push to try and get IttyBittyFoodies into the top 25. You can vote every 24 hours till May 29, 4pm PST. And don’t forget to share the link & tell everyone about IttyBittyFoodies!

Click here more info on Circle of Moms.

Thank you for your wonderful support! Till our next Happy Meal!

Carbone’s Fine Food and Wine at The Shops of Highland Park

Julian Barsotti’s new Italian-American eatery, Carbone’s is as hot as the meatballs he serves right now. Carbone’s joins the popular dining row at The Shops of Highland Park  next to La Duni Latin Kitchen & Baking Studio, Nosh and Asian Mint on Oaklawn. We’re fans of Barsotti’s first venture, Nonna and when we heard, he was opening a casual over-the-counter Italian cafe, Ittybittyfoodies visited in the first week (twice).

IttyBittyFoodies nominated Top 25 Foodie Moms by Circle of Moms

IttyBittyFoodies have just been nominated by Circle of Moms for Top 25 Foodie Moms 2012 category and we couldn’t be more chuffed! In case you were wondering what Circle of Moms are, it’s a website for just for moms (about 6 million strong!) to network, get together and connect on all mommy things! From pregnancy to baby to big kid stages, Circle of Moms is a great resource to exchange ideas and learn from someone else who has probably been there and done that.

I’m thrilled to be part of this and I humbly ask you to vote for IttyBittyFoodies. Just click on the badge above and look for the avatar with the tiny toddler hands holding Lemley’s orange 8 ball squash (which btw are in season again at the Dallas Farmer’s Market).

Click here more info on Circle of Moms.

Thank you again to my readers! Till our next Happy Meal!

Chicken Scratch in Oak Cliff

 

Chicken Scratch at dusk

It’s 6.30pm on a Saturday night when we spontaneously decided to head down to Chicken Scratch in Oak Cliff. We called to ask if we needed to book a table but the voice on the phone said almost prophetically, “There’s no reservations but there’s tables right now but who knows… there might be a line out the door in 15 minutes time”.

Nosh Euro Bistro

Nosh Euro Bistro, owned by award wining Chef Avner Samuel, is one of those places that most people never think of taking their kids to. Maybe because Nosh sounds a bit like ‘posh’ or the word ‘Euro’ has fancy connotations but it is surprisingly kid friendly. They even have high chairs to prop up your ittybittyfoodies as they munch on classic French style escargot done with lots of butter, herbs and garlic served with a nub of crusty bread.

Three Happy Cows = Two Happy Foodies!

Let’s do the math! It takes just four ingredients to make Three Happy Cows blueberry drinkable yogurt - organic milk, blueberry pulp, pure cane sugar and live probitoic cultures (L.D Thermophilus and S.S. Bulgaricus) plus one talented artisanal yogurt maker, Edgar Diaz, to equal two happy IttyBittyFoodies!

Central Market at Preston Royal – First look!

New Central Market opens

Central Market throws open it’s doors today! The Preston Royal locale (previously housed by Borders) marks the opening of Central Market’s ninth store. IttyBittyFoodies had a media sneak peak yesterday at some of the innovations and offerings customers can look forward like the new selection of New York Deli-style dishes and baked goods. Think artisanal boiled and then baked bagels onsite and new bialys and New York City based Charlito’s cocina artisan salumi.There’ll be a full service custom sandwich bar with a “Build Your Own” sandwich option as well as a menu of chef created sandwiches.

Tei-An (with kids…gasp!)

One Arts Plaza

Pikelet would sooner have a platter of sushi than a tray of cupcakes. For his 6th birthday we did the unthinkable. On a whim we decided to whisk the whole family off to Tei-An at One Arts Plaza, on a busy Saturday night without a reservation! We were playing with fire taking kids to a place we only reserve for date night.

Better than cupcakes!

Upon arrival, we sheepishly told the hostess we didn’t have a reservation but Pikelet just had to have their stellar sushi for his birthday dinner.

Marshmallow Molecule Cake Topper

Happy Birthday Pikelet! Oh how quickly you’ve grown. In the last couple of weeks, my sweet baby started kindergarten, lost his first tooth and is showing signs of a budding scientist. My mini Einstein wanted to have a Molecule party at The Lab in Lakewood, no cake, just brownies (Sugar Bowl Bakery Petite Brownies available at Costco) with a DIY marshmallow molecule cake topper.

Pho Colonial

Spring Rolls & Egg rolls - yum

The opening of Pho Colonial Vietnamese Diner is a welcomed addition to downtown Dallas which is speckled with great but expensive restaurants like Charlie Palmer at The Joule or greasy spoons and pizza joints. Pho Colonial, located just opposite the flagship Neiman Marcus store on the corner of Main and Ervay provides the population with a fresh alternative, great food at a mid range price point.

Lazy Weekend Family Buffet Lunch

The spread

We all love to eat different things in our family. Pikelet, my five year old is more adventurous and three year old Lollo often needs coaxing to try something new. That’s why our lazy weekend buffet lunches are a favorite in the household. It is a presentation of all our favorite items and a few new ones in case someone wants to try something new.

Lemley’s at Dallas Farmers Market

Tonight's dessert after a day of painting paper boats

Many of us associate Lemley’s at the Dallas Farmers Market with sweet summer peaches but I’ve always found all his produce just stellar. The last month Pikelet & Lollo have had asked me repeatedly to drive downtown for Lemley’s canteloupes. The sweet aroma will envelop you before you even cut one open. And oh the heavenly pink coral flesh that await at first bite – juicy, sweet, luscious…

Oddfellows in Oak Cliff

We have a love hate relationship with Oddfellows in the Bishop Arts District. We love the food but hate the long waits. But they have this wonderful fried tomato sandwich that beckons me and as a result, I’ve subjected my IttyBittyFoodies to the brutal waits – three times. On a fine day, diners can wait outside sipping coffee or hot chocolate made with their super expensive La Marzocco Strada Espresso coffee machine and the kids just wander about and playing with the piano outside.

Little Play Spaces Le Café helps kiddies beat the heat!

Breakfast at Le Cafe by Little Play Spaces

While the temperature soars outside, Pikelet & Lollo have been enjoying many hours dining at Le Café by Little Play Spaces. Designed by Katie Fagelman, an East Dallas mom of two girls, the play structure features a beautiful French Café complete with your very own poodle, chalkboard menu, a table top menu and a sliding Ouvert & Ferme sign. We’ve seen lots of cardboard play houses but Le Café by Little Play Spaces has captured our imagination with all the details.

Unleash your inner cookie monster – Cookie Happy Hour

Central Market cookies

Who doesn’t like a good happy hour especially when it involves some of IttyBittyFoodies’ fave cookie spots. Tart Bakery offers a Happy Hour special each week this summer on Wednesday & Thursday from 3-6pm. This week it’s buy 3 get 1 free cream filled cupcake.

Central Market is launching a new line of cookies freshly baked each day

Texas Daily Harvest Milk from Urban Acres

Urban Acres

Milk is milk to me. If I’m passing a pharmacy I won’t think twice about popping in for a gallon rather than driving elsewhere for the organic stuff (foodies please don’t balk!). Sure I think that organic milk tastes better than conventional but it’s not enough for me to go the extra mile – literally. That is until last weekend when fate gave me a chance encounter with Texas Daily Harvest Milk at Urban Acres in Oak Cliff.

Tom Fleming’s Crossroads Diner

View from the waiting room

The Confession - I’m going to come right out and say it, we have not fallen in love with Crossroads Diner’s cinnamon buns. Ok now that it’s off my chest, more about it later. It is noon on a Saturday and there are at least 10 tables infront of us. Ugh it’s a 30-45 minute wait. Thank goodness there are children’s books to keep Pikelet & Lollo occupied in the waiting area. If spotting chef Abraham Salum of Salum and the gorgeous new Komali waiting patiently like the rest of us pedestrians is any indication of what’s to come, then wait we shall. 

Belly full of whale cakes – easy salmon cakes with green beans & bacon

Pikelet & Lollo eat salmon cakes because of the book “Big Blue Whale” by Nicola Davies. They call them ‘whale cakes’ and eat loads because thought of having stinky ‘whale’ breath is an attractive trait when you are five and three years old.

“When it breathes out, it makes a great misty puff as high as a house. This is the whale’s blow, and you can see it from far away. You can hear it, too – a great PROOUFF. And if you are close enough, you can smell it, as the whale’s breath is stale and fishy.”